09 October 2023 , 12:21
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Labour's welfare chief has vowed to introduce a bold national child poverty strategy if the party wins power.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the last Labour government lifted two million children and pensioners out of poverty. In her first address to the party's annual conference, she said: "Today, our ambition is undiminished. Our resolution, redoubled.
"We will deliver a bold, new, cross-government, child poverty strategy. And ensure decent state and second pensions for all". Details of the strategy are yet to be announced but it came as Labour was urged to introduce a Child Poverty Act within 100 days of winning power.
Save the Children UK said it should come with legally binding targets and a Cabinet minister dedicated to the cause in government. The charity also urged Labour to lift benefits in line with inflation and abolish the controversial two-child limit on benefits if they win power.
The limit caused deep divisions in Labour over the summer after Keir Starmer said Labour would not make a pre-election commitment to scrap the policy. Head of policy at Save the Children Becca Lyon said a new Child Poverty Act would "put Labour on the right path to tackling vast inequality in this country."
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She added: "There hasn't been a serious focus on bringing down child poverty levels from a UK government for over a decade. The next Government must act at pace to bring the change we need. "We want an ambitious future for our children after years of Covid and the cost-of-living crisis and Labour has a chance to set out clearly how it intends to do that, and achieve the party's own ambitions around inequality and opportunity, by committing to a new Child Poverty Act."
Ms Kendall, who was appointed to the role during Mr Starmer's September reshuffle, also vowed to "reform" Universal Credit. Her speech came after the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt used a speech last week to threaten families with even tougher sanctions.
The Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary insisted Labour would ensure "everyone who can work, does" - but also hit out at the Tories being the party of "tax cuts for the rich and benefit cuts for the poor".
She also said the cost of the Tories' 13-years in power were being experienced across the country, saying: "Parents working 12-hour shifts in shops and cafes - but struggling to pay basic bills. Mums forced to give up work - because they cannot afford childcare. "A country where there are now more foodbanks than police stations. This must end."
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